You can find bike rental businesses in any of the major cities in the world. This business has existed for a long time but now it has shifted to an online medium. Bike rentals are gaining significant traction because of their affordable and convenient services. Though it is not as big as the Fintech or edtech industries, if invested wisely then bike rental app development solutions can open great revenue opportunities for your business.

The global bike rental industry was valued at around $ 2.1 billion by the end of 2021. It is predicted that within the next 10 years i.e., by the end of 2031, the industry will reach a valuation of $11 million.

In 2013, there were 700,000 recorded bike rentals throughout the world. And 3 years later, its count reached 2.3 million in 2016. Fast forward to today, the market has attained stability with much better stats.

The bike rental businesses are not limited to the US or UK but are widespread across the world. With time, more individuals are showing interest in building their bike rental apps. In this guide, we will introduce you to different aspects of bike rental app development.

What is a Bike Rental App?

Bike rental apps are innovative platforms that directly connect users and owners, streamlining the bike rental process. Similar to taxi booking apps, these apps also require you to download and register your details to create your account. To book a bike, the user just needs to give their location to the driver. Also, you have the freedom to choose the bike as per your budget and preferences. Hire a leading bike rental app development company to get your own feature-rich app Let's move on to understand the workings of the bike rental app in detail.

How Does Bike Rental Work?

Want to know about the workings of bike rental apps? In this section, we will do step-by-step work on bike rental apps.

- The first and foremost step for the user is to download the app on their smartphones.
- Now, it's time to enter your personal details into the app and become a member of it. The user can log in via a contact number, email ID, or social media account.
- Once the registration process is completed, the user can now provide other details, like name, location, preferences, and so on.
- Based on the user's location, they can search for the closest location where they can get a bike.
- After reaching the station, the user will either find a supporting staff or a bike with ELock that can only be opened through the app.
- In the case of eLock, the user will receive a code on your app or phone, using which they can unlock the bike.
- After completing the ride, the user needs to bring the bike back to the same point. They can also submit it to another station of the same service provider.
- The user has the option to select the payment gateway they want and complete the process.
- Users can also give feedback in the form of reviews and ratings of the app.

Note: If the bike is damaged or lost, the user must compensate for it. Read the terms and conditions on the app carefully to avoid any problems.

Why Opt For Bike Rental App Development?

Bike rental app development services are not only beneficial to clients but also for business owners. The following points will clarify your confusion about whether or not you should build your bike rental apps.

Benefits of the Bike Rental App for Business Owners:

- If you already have a rental business, then developing an app will improve your brand visibility and provide you with a wide range of revenue generation strategies.
- You can offer different loyalty programs, coupons, discounts, and promotions to capture the attention of clients and broaden their audience base.
- Bike rental app development solutions can maximize productivity and efficiency in business, resulting in brand building.
- Even if you do not have a rental business, you can earn a good amount of money by renting your bikes for renting services.
- The revenue generated from each bike will save you from the stress of digging the pockets while replacing or serving the bikes.
- Although it is a growing niche in the industry, Uber, Lime, Bird, etc. are great examples of how this business idea has the potential to turn into a million-dollar company.
- The app manages everything, from tracking bookings to keeping an eye on transactions. As a result of this, bike rental owners can try to improve their app performance to provide an enhanced user experience.

Benefits of the Bike Rental App for Clients:

Bike rental apps are popular among users, they can leverage the following benefits:

- The bike rental apps are reliable and convenient for users as they are integrated with multiple digital payment methods.
- It is very cost-effective and allows them to travel to their nearby locations. The user just needs to tap a few options and they are good to go.
- GPS-enabled bike rental apps let the driver track the location of the user and vice versa. They can access and use the app from anywhere.
- Users will get a variety of bike options to choose from based on their model, price, color etc.
- Users may collect many rewards for being a loyal client of the app.
- Bike rental apps are faster, more effective, and more robust, helping people escape the stress of getting stuck in traffic to reach their destination as soon as possible.

Business Models For Bike Rental Apps

Before starting the development process, it is very crucial to determine a business on which your app will operate and generate revenue. Here we have explained the two major business models that are commonly used for bike rental apps. This section will enable you to decide which model is the most suitable for your bike rental app development project.

Aggregator Model

As the name implies, the aggregator model provides a platform for other bike companies and individual owners who want to use their bikes to generate extra income. You can register yourself as the bike owner and offer your services. The users will browse through the list of services and can select whatever they prefer.

In this model two different parties, where bike owners charge a specific amount to the app owners in exchange for their bikes. It acts like a marketplace for bike owners and this model requires a limited investment. And, if executed accurately it can make your business reach new heights.

Also Read: Guide To Bike Taxi Booking App Development

Self-Owned Fleet

In order to rent out this model, a single person must invest a large sum of money, purchase a large number of bikes, and list them on the app. You may now rent to clients on an hourly basis and earn additional money once you have your fleet of bikes and the app. Since both the bike and the app owner have complete control over the services, this approach is quite simple to operate. Additionally, using this model is less expensive than using the aggregated model.

Business Owned Fleet Model

This business model is an ideal option, if you have a rental business and a bike fleet. You can build your own app without any dependency on others. Since the company owns the fleet, these bikes can be hired out or returned to various stations across the city after their useful lives are over.

This model for your bike rental mobile app development requires a higher investment than the aggregator model. However, the high investment also guarantees higher revenue generation. Thus, you should consider it seriously.

Key Features to Include in Bike Rental App Development

Bike rental allows users to pick up a vehicle, pay the fare, and return it to the docking station. You might think that it is so simple and easy and anyone can do it. But, this app can be made only with the expertise of a good mobile app development company. The following are the must-have features for any bike rental app.

Login

Users of your bike rental app must register or create an account. To accelerate the process, allow authentication by social network accounts or email addresses.

QR Code Reader

By scanning QR codes in the dedicated app, users can unlock bikes. Include a camera function to facilitate code scanning. Dockless bicycles must have this feature.

GPS and Geolocation

GPS is one of the most important features that helps users locate nearby bikes and keeps thefts from happening because devices have been integrated right into the bikes.

Document Verification

To make the app environment safe and secure, bike owners should submit all of their papers, like their licenses, insurance, identity, etc. for the verification process which will be checked by the app admin and owner.

Requests for Instant Bookings

Using the instant booking feature, renters can book a bike right away. They can also reserve the bike for future use by making a booking request to the owner and getting their confirmation. Hire dedicated app developers to integrate such advanced features into your bike rental app.

Reservation Management

The admin keeps an eye on all the bookings confirmed or received on the rental marketplace platform. Admins have access to the reservation data and reimburse the charge given in case of cancellations as well as make payments to bike owners.

Manage Service Charges

You are charged based on the service chosen and the distance traveled. The app showcases the service cost in a percentage format as well as a fixed price. Both the owner and the renter will pay the service charge, which will be handled by the administrator and subtracted in accordance with the terms and regulations.

In-App Chat and Call

Hire mobile app developers who can integrate this feature to let renters and bike owners communicate swiftly. Some bike rental apps also have an in-built call feature where the user or owner can call without disclosing the number.

Payment Methods

It is better to add various eWallet integrations like Google and Apple Pay, PayPal, etc. to make the payment process easy for clients. Only an experienced mobile app development company can do this as this may put a strain on the app’s backend. Thus, it is necessary to have a solid backend, allowing admins to offer as many payment options as they want.

Push Notifications

Push notifications are the best way to engage with the audience as they alert them about new services, additions, offers, and discounts. In addition, these notifications are genuinely necessary for bike rental apps as they remind users about their rental time.

Review Management

Admin has the power to control the dashboard of the app and look over all the reviews submitted by bike owners and renters as well. They can edit or remove any kind of inappropriate or negative review.

Customer Support

Effective customer support must be provided in the case that a user encounters difficulties while using the rented bikes or when making a reservation. One-touch customer service is the secret to the success of bike rental companies all over the world.

Best Bike Rental Apps in 2024

If you are thinking about developing your own bike rental app, then what is a better way than to analyze the current best rental apps? It will give you an idea of what is best for your app. Some of the top bike rental apps of 2024 are listed below:

GoBikes

Spinlister

Lime

RentOnGo

Citi Bike

Lyft

Yulu

Ontrack

SHRIDE

SmartBike

Monetization Opportunities of Bike Rental Mobile Apps

Mobile app development always brings along a wide range of monetization opportunities. Building a bike rental app can make your business open to new revenue streams. You can either generate direct or indirect money from the app.

It is the most traditional yet effective method of generating indirect income through the app. A third-party owner purchases a little space in the app to promote or advertise their products and services. These partnerships are a must for the app's success as they bring a larger audience to the app.

As the app owner, you can charge for the advertisement based on the length of time it remains on the app and the ad’s format i.e. text, graphic or video. You can also charge using cost-per-click and cost-per-mile methods.

Commissions

If your app is built based on the aggregator business model then commission would be your primary source of income. Bike owners who register their bikes on the platform are bound to share a specific percentage of their booking income with the specific owners. Clients who reserve a bike also have to pay a deposit, which is deducted from the total amount. Customers will be assessed a small cancellation fee if they decide to cancel their bookings before utilizing the service.

Discounts For Special Occasions

Generally, bike owners are responsible for publishing promotional coupons and discounts but app owners can also do this. These special offers or discounts will reach a larger audience and boost the revenue growth of your app.

Physical and Logistical Considerations

Before initiating your bike rental app development process, it is important to understand the logistics as it will help you determine your demand and supply of two-wheelers you have. If you don't have sufficient demand or supply then your app will fail miserably.

Various Payment Methods

Here is an opportunity to simplify things for your clients by offering a range of payment alternatives. If you take both online and offline payments, you will attract more customers.

Comprehensive Bike Rental App Development

The rental industry is very vast and has many segments including e-scooter rental, car rental or bike rental. Giant industry players are entering this field, resulting in high competition among the players to thrive in the market. Therefore, you should always study your competitors and then proceed with bike rental app development.

Market Research

A detailed market research project will keep you alerted about everything going around in the industry. Collect the data related to your competitors and analyze it carefully. SWOT analysis will help you find your strengths and weaknesses and your competitors. Try to identify the pain points of your users or customers and include features that can eliminate these issues. In addition, analyze the conversion data and prepare a solid strategy. Once you are clear on all of this, concluding on the idea will be simpler. It will also assist you in creating a clear bike rental app development roadmap.

Ideation and Deciding Features

Now, it's time to draw the outline for your project. As mentioned earlier, the pain points of your users will become your USP, leading to the foundation of the key concept of your bike rental app. The app can either be for an individual brand or can be a marketplace for various brands.

Let's move on to the next step of preparing the list of app features, which is one of the important deciding factors of your app’s success. Plan the features carefully as it will help you attract a larger audience in less time.

Design Appealing UI/UX for the App

We consider users as the main characters of the whole story of mobile app development. They have the power to boost conversions and make your business reach new heights. From the design of your app to the expected ROI, each factor of the app should be based on a user-centric approach.

The UI/UX design must be user-friendly with buttons and text in the right places. So that users can navigate through the app easily. Hire designers who are well-versed in creating appealing designs that can compel users to download the app and increase conversion..

You can also ask for MVP after finalizing the design. A smooth and interactive interface for your bike rental app should be easy to use for all ages.

Choose a Bike Rental App Development Company

Developing a bike rental app is not as easy as it seems. It requires a dedicated expert bike rental app developer to build the app of your dreams.

Hire an experienced bike rental app development company who can assist you with this process. Describe your vision to them in detail and clear your expectations with them regarding the project. Your app should be tailored to cater to the needs of your target audience then only it can be a success. Keep in touch with your partner company for suggestions and get updates from the development team regularly.

You can also outsource bike rental app developers but it will increase your stress as all the work and process will be under your guidance. Let's build a groundbreaking bike rental app together.

Select The Right Tech Stack

The tech stack holds utmost importance during developing bike rental app development solutions. For instance, you can either accept cross-platform development, or iOS and Android app development separately. Reactive Native and Flutter have been trending frameworks in recent times.

Selecting programming languages, frameworks, and tools for front-end and back-end development falls under this area. Verify that your technological stack supports scalability, high performance, and simple integration with external services.

MVP Development

Once you are done with the basic steps, now you should ask for an MVP as it plays a key role in getting downloads. It frames the future roadmap of your bike rental app. The minimum viable product is an unskippable step in developing an innovative bike rental solution.

You can determine whether or not people are prepared to accept your application by looking at the MVP. The MVP development process involves three steps:

Integrating Content Resources

In the very first step, you should create the design, develop the logical code, and add the database. You can integrate any kind of resource and solution into the basic application.

When the full solution is prepared, users will be aware of what they are getting.

This would make it easier for them to find your instructional bike rental mobile app. Whether or not your users convert will depend on the content of your app.

Implementing User Feedback

The second step is to understand the user’s opinion of the app. User reviews and feedback will help you identify the flaws in your rental app. Apply the suggestions, and it will result in an improvement in your app’s performance. This stage will improve your app and assist you in adding the features you need to make it more advanced and help it grow.

Ensuring App Security and Privacy

The last step is to make sure that your app is safe and secure to use. Our app should be end-to-end encrypted, which facilitates the privacy of your bike rental app development solutions.

App security is essential for users and bike owners as well, they share sensitive and personal information on bike rental apps. Add two-factor authentication and biometrics in your rental application to ensure a safe booking. Prior to deployment, make sure the application has been tested for content and security.

App Testing

When you are done with your MVP, move ahead with the testing process. Testing the app at every stage of development with QAs enhances the proficiency of your bike rental app development.

The tests give you information about any bugs, glitches, functionality, localization, performance, speed, security, interruptions, etc. All these factors combined fulfilled the set criteria for mobile applications.

Perform the test across various devices and multiple operating systems. You can even run tests with real users also to get their genuine feedback on your app’s performance and quality. Correct all the bugs or flaws, before deploying the app.

App Launch And Marketing

At last, deploy your app to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store for final approval. Optimize your app, strictly adhering to the guidelines set by the stores before launching. Your app will be reviewed based on different parameters, including safety, performance, business, design, and legal guidelines. It may take days or weeks to approve your app submission.

The approval may take weeks or months after your app submissions.

Before releasing the software, create and implement a marketing plan. Adopt all the marketing techniques that can aid in the development of your brand, including PPC, SEM, and SEO. The most effective strategy for increasing brand awareness and growing a user base is marketing.

Cost of Bike Rental Mobile Application Development

The cost of bike rental app development with the assistance of a leading mobile app development company will completely depend upon the complexity and features of the bike rental application. However, it can be precisely between $10k to $30k. The app development cost primarily depends on additional advanced features. Also, it depends on the platform that you choose for your development. The iOS bike rental app development will be much more expensive compared to the Android platform. Your application development costs will be considerably less if you choose to create your bike rental app for Android.

On the other hand, many business owners prefer cross-platform development where they get robust apps for both iOS and Android platforms to get maximum potential customers. It will always be more expensive in such a situation. The cost of the bike rental application will also be determined by the development resources, technology, and extra features.

The GPS-enabled maps in the applications allow users to easily and safely track their bikes while they travel. The ability to automatically detect the location lessens the challenge faced by anyone attempting to locate the address. The GPS-enabled maps in the applications allow users to easily and safely track their bikes while they travel. The ability to automatically detect the location lessens the challenge faced by anyone attempting to locate the address.

Wrapping Up

If you have been thinking about establishing your own bike rental business, this blog should have cleared your confusion about certain things. You can enter the market with a unique and innovative idea. Our team of mobile app developers ensures the delivery of high-quality solutions that have the potential to boost your revenue within the given timeframe. Our bike rental app development services cover all the tasks and build your brand from scratch. We use the latest technologies like AI, ML, VR, AR, Data Analytics, etc. to make our products top-notch.

The bike rental app development market is huge and if the plan is executed properly then it can be profitable. Though the market is vast due to the high level of competition, your app must stand out with its features and outstanding work. For this reason, we recommend JPLoft as your partner mobile app development company for your bike rental app development.

Frequently Ask Questions

1. What is bike rental app development?

Just like car rental app development, you can also build an app dedicated to bike rental apps. Since everyone is familiar with taxi booking app development, you can take it as an example for both bike rental and taxi booking apps are very similar.

As the name implies, you can use this smartphone app to rent bikes on demand by downloading it to your device. Bicycles are available for use as you see fit, and you can return them to the station when you're through. Ultimately, you can make payments using the app without assistance from a person. These days, many large cities all around the world rely heavily on bicycles for transportation.

2. How long does it take to build a bike rental app?

The development time for a bike rental app can vary. A basic app with basic functions usually takes about 2 to 3 months to complete. Advanced apps that contain complicated functions like advanced data or custom interfaces can take 4 to 6 months to develop. Our Seasoned team of bike rental app developers carefully monitors the processes, ensuring careful design, smooth merging of features, and strict testing phases. They also make sure that the app meets all market standards.

3. Do you provide help after the app is deployed?

Yes, at JPLoft, we provide complete help after your app is launched. Our dedicated team provides support, updates, and help to ensure your app works smoothly. We value client happiness and long-term success, helping with any technological problems or improvements needed post-launch. With JPLoft, you can rely on ongoing help to improve speed, introduce new features, and provide effective bike rental app development services that respond effectively to changing market needs.

4. How do bike rental apps make money?

Bike rental apps generate income through various marketing methods, such as in-app payments for premium content, membership plans that offer ad-free shows, and advertising choices like audio ads or promoted content. Additionally, apps can allow partner marketing programs to accept gifts from viewers. Partner with a reputed bike rental app development company that can provide guidance on revenue generation models and help you make some cash.

5. Which platform should I choose to get maximum user engagement?

To increase user engagement for a podcast app, choose both iOS and Android devices. iOS usually offers higher user interaction and income potential due to its wealthy user base. Android, on the other hand, provides access to a larger audience globally. If you're looking to create a podcast app, consider partnering with an experienced bike rental app development company. They can help you go cross-platform, reach more users, and house different tastes and devices.